From ISAF to RS: Denmark continues key role in Afghanistan - Danish GS-13 reflects on Constitution Day

Photo By Lt.Cmdr. Charity Edgar | Denmark GS-13 Christian Bedmar serves as Ministry of Defense Acquisition Agency Advisor to EF-1 in the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, Resolute Support.  

AFGHANISTAN

06.03.2015

Story by Lt.j.g. Charity Edgar 

Resolute Support Headquarters

Afghanistan - Since the establishment of the International Security Assistance Force in 2001, the Danish armed forces has played an important role in Afghanistan. From deploying combat troops and equipment to Helmand, to transitioning to the Resolute Support Mission, Denmark’s resolve to support Afghanistan remains strong as ever.

The Resolute Support mission encompasses eight Essential Functions or EFs. These are areas where the coalition partners can maximize effectiveness in the train, advise and assist role. The first Essential Function is one that Denmark civilian GS-13 Christian Bedmar knows well.

Essential Function-1 (EF-1) is planning, programming, budgeting and execution. It is establishing a base of knowledge in the key fundamental skills of resource management and procurement, needed to raise and sustain effective Afghan Security Institutions. For Bedmar, who serves as Ministry of Defense Acquisition Agency adviser to EF-1 in the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, it means business development.

The Combined Security Transition Command enables, trains, advises and assists by providing essential resources in support and continued development of Afghan National Defense Security Forces. In addition to his role working on regional contracts, Bedmar ensures that supplies and resources get to their intended recipients in a timely manner by assisting with the creation of a National Codification Bureau branch in Afghanistan.

All NATO supplies used in Afghanistan have a National Stock Number for accountability. They are tracked in the National Codification System, which Bedmar describes as, “the library of items whereas the logistics systems is the flow or movement of goods.” Improvements to Afghanistan’s new National Codification Bureau mean that if a product arrives and the National Stock Number is incomplete or illegible, it can quickly be deciphered using the National Codification System database. In turn, that means important supplies—anything from Humvee parts to helmets—are getting where they need to go when they need to get there, achieving both mission readiness and transparency.

While Bedmar sees part of his role as business, serving in Afghanistan means much more to him, especially on Denmark’s Constitution Day.

“You get here [to Afghanistan] and see how important our work is. They’re emphasizing rule of law and fighting corruption,” said Bedmar. “It puts things into perspective. They’re trying to build a strong democracy with values like in Scandinavia or the United States.”

Danish Brig. Gen. Hans Christain Enevold, the director of EF-2, Transparency, Accountability, and Oversight, and Danish senior national representative in Afghanistan said, “Denmark keeps our engagement in Afghanistan to help the government towards increased responsibility for the country’s security, political and economic development. The key words are sustainability, Afghan ownership and normalization.”

• Date Taken: 06.03.2015
• Date Posted: 06.04.2015 14:03
• Story ID: 165503
• Location: AF